Category Archives: Mei Tai

We’re on the countdown to New Zealand and International Babywearing Week 2015 and we’re enjoying giving away lots of awesome babywearing goodness thanks to our generous sponsors. Thanks to everyone who entered our giveaway for a Kozy Carrier in the Feilding print from sponsor Kozy Carrier Ltd.

The next giveaway will be live very soon so keep an eye on our Facebook page for the announcement and subscribe to our blog so you don’t miss out on a chance to enter. Did you know that you will automatically receive a bonus entry in the facebook giveaways if you have the New Zealand Babywearing Week logo as your profile pic? Grab it from the New Zealand Babywearing Week page!

We’re on the countdown to New Zealand Babywearing Week (2-11 October 2015) and we are looking forward to celebrating with you. Our next giveaway is a Kozy Carrier in Feilding (pictured below), courtesy of New Zealand Babywearing Week sponsor Kozy Carrier Ltd.

Whether resting, nursing, sleeping, snuggling or simply being held, your precious baby will feel loved and protected, nestled securely in the Kozy Carrier. Available since 2003, the Kozy Carrier is a versatile and comfortable Asian-inspired baby carrier (Mei Tai) that can be used from birth to toddlerhood (and beyond) and can easily and safely be worn on your front, back and even on your hip.

Features of the Kozy Carrier:

Designed for comfort for you and your child

Generous sized body for added support

Wide padded shoulder straps for comfort

Padded and curved top provides head support for baby

No fussy buckles or snaps – simply tie it on

Versatile – wear it when pregnant or nursing

Front, back and hip carries

Reversible – can be worn with plain side out

Made in New Zealand with sturdy, high quality fabrics

3.5 – 20kg

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Please note that this giveaway is open to New Zealand residents only.

To be in with a chance to win, like the New Zealand Babywearing Week Facebook page. Then comment under the post that has the link to this blog post on the New Zealand Babywearing Week page, saying why you would like to win this Kozy Carrier. (Comments under the image in the photo album will not count as entries, comments must be under the post that has the blog link on the facebook page – thanks!)

Leave a comment under this post to let us know why you would like to win this Kozy Carrier.

Change your facebook profile pic to the New Zealand Babywearing Week logo so that we see it when you comment on the facebook page to enter. The logo may be taken from the New Zealand Babywearing Week facebook page profile picture.

Good luck to all who enter! A winner will be drawn after midday on Thursday 24th September 2015. New Zealand Babywearing Week – the countdown is on . . .

The next giveaway will be live very soon so keep an eye on our Facebook page for the announcement and subscribe to our blog so you don’t miss out on a chance to enter. Did you know that you will automatically receive a bonus entry in the facebook giveaways if you have the New Zealand Babywearing Week logo as your profile pic? Grab it from the New Zealand Babywearing Week page!

We’re on the countdown to New Zealand Babywearing Week (2-11 October 2015) and we are looking forward to celebrating with you. Our next giveaway is a Fidella mei tai courtesy of New Zealand Babywearing Week sponsor Treasure U.

The Fidella Mei Tai is very versatile, fully adjustable and can fit children of any size. The Fidella mei tai is a full wrap conversion made out of Fidella’s woven wrap.

To be in with a chance to win, like the New Zealand Babywearing Week Facebook page then comment under the post about this giveaway on the New Zealand Babywearing Week page, saying why you would like to win this Fidella mei tai.

Soft Structured which includes Beco, Ergo, Manduca and Patapum (baby and toddler size).

Asian Style carriers consist of a rectangular panel with straps:

Mei Tai are primarily Chinese in origin. They have a strap at each corner, two for the waist and two for the shoulders. Some Mei Tai brands available in NZ are BabyHawk, Little Tree Baby, Kozy Carrier and Snugglez.

Podaegi are Korean. They have a strap at each top corner, which cross under baby to become the bottom support too.

Onbuhimo come from Japan, and have straps at the top which thread through a ring at each bottom corner.

A back carry with a Kozy Carrier Mei Tai

The panels can be quite ornate and the straps are usually wide to spread the weight over the body. The Mei Tai can be worn front and back, but the Podaegi and Onbuhimo are primarily back carriers. All three types support baby in the desirable squatting/seated position.

Some people even carry their pets in their carriers like this happy pooch who’s riding in a Kozy Carrier!

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Soft Structured Carriers(SSC) got their original design from Asian Style, but buckles and cinches have been added, and a thick, more structured waistband. The shoulder straps are very padded, with a chest clip for added security. The waistband takes the major part of baby’s weight, which is easy to carry on the hips rather than dragging on your shoulders like some carriers. All of them have a sleep hood either rolled up or tucked in the top edge.

Patapum toddler carrier

There are some differences between the main brands available in New Zealand but essentially they have the same basic design similarities with the straps, buckles, waistband and sleephood. The Ergo has the shortest panel of them all, and the Toddler Patapum, Beco and Manduca the tallest. The Manduca has an extendable back panel – you can unzip it from the height of the Ergo to just a little higher than the Beco.

The Beco is the only one with a permanent layer between you and baby, which is really useful for switching baby from front to back without reinstalling them. The others have nothing between baby and parent. The Ergo needs a separate infant insert if used under around 4 months while the Manduca and Beco come with attached infant inserts so are ‘all in one’ carriers. The Toddler Patapum is recommended for babies from 9-12months – before this they get lost in the panel! The Ergo and Manduca shoulder straps can cross at the back when used in a front carry, but the Beco and Patapum straps can’t.

The Manduca showing how straps can be crossed for a front carry.

Daddies seem to like the no-fuss practicality of the Soft-Structured Carriers when compared to other carrier types.

Asian Style and Soft Structured Carriers are great for spreading baby’s weight over two shoulders – ideal for heavy babies or toddlers and for when you need to wear your baby for long periods of time. Many can be used over 18kg which makes them good value for money.

There are many great brands available in New Zealand, or you can make your own if you have the time and skill – make sure you reinforce those seams and for a SSC use good quality buckles!